I have been MIA for a few months....  but I`mmmmmmmm baaaaack! I want to start by saying a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all of you wonderful people that supported my trek to Realtor-dom! I did it... I got the licesnse. Then I got that taste of reality. I am a single mom and had no source of income at the time. To think I could make a living selling Real Estate right out of the gate was a pipe dream. I had no back up plan! I ended up having to get a real JOB. But the story is really just now getting started!!! I found a job working in wireless phone sales that I really love. I really like the company I work for and have a bright future with them in Management. I am currently the Store manager for Russell Cellular in Van Buren, Ar. But it doesnt fullfill my longing for freedom. I want to fly li... 05/14/2009

Mother nature struck again in Van Buren on Fathers Day Sunday night June 15th... I was sitting at home alone watching the telie and I heard it start to rumble very loud and deep in the near distance. I don't normally watch the news so I was not aware we were due to have storms. In fact, it had been a beautiful day. I had just got through mowing my yard a few hours earlier. About 11:10 PM the storm came down like a raging bull. The winds were extreme and the lightning was like I have never seen before. I have been through a few storms and even witnessed a tornado from a few miles away but I was very uneasy and scared about this storm. We had just started to finally recover from the storms we had in April that caused Van Buren and many other cities to be deemed disaster zones. I wrote abo... 06/19/2008

In the words made famous by Joan Rivers...... CAN WE TALK??? About Colon Cancer.In 2007, an estimated 112,340 Americans were diagnosed with colon cancer and 41,420 with rectal cancer. More than 52,000 people were expected to die from the disease last year. Colon cancer is largely preventable if precancerous polyps are found and removed before they become cancerous. If colon cancer is found and treated at its earliest stage, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent.Would you take a moment to allow me to talk to you about Cancer and how it has affected my life? In Janurary of 2005 I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Colon Cancer. I had surgery to remove a tumor the size of a brick of cheese, about 3 x 4 inches, along with 16 inches of my transverse colon. The surgery was followed by 6 months of... 05/08/2008

I have been keeping track of some really interesting photos of Van Buren Arkansas that are taken by a local photographer who is also a music teacher for the Van Buren School District.I wanted to highlite some of his work and let ohters know about him. His name is J. Andrew Lockhart. He keeps a daily journal of his work in pictures on his blog, http://vanburendailyphoto.blogspot.com/This is a picture he took of the hail that I blogged about this past month. Incredible hail did a ton of damage. This is a shot of the cemetery right down the street from my house. Please go check out his blog and his pictures. I think he captures the charm of our wonderful city in very unique ways.Susan 05/05/2008

One of the great events that is held annually on Main Street in Historic Van Buren is the Old Timers Days Arts and Crafts Festival.   Six blocks of Van Buren's Main Street will be closed off to provide space for more than 200 exhibitors from more than seven states.  A variety of food and entertainment will be available. A children's carvnival will also be available. The event will be held rain or shine.  This annual event draws thousands of tourists and visitors. The festival goers enjoy food samples and music and also a carnival. A grand ole time is had by all! Friday:6 p.m. Carnival Opens6:00 Wecome & National Anthem6:30 St. James Gospel Choir7 p.m. Jesus Main Gospel BandSaturday9:00 a.m. Festival and Carnival Opens10:00 a.m. Free Entertainment Begins10:30 Excursion Train6 p.m. Welcom... 05/02/2008

Make plans to see the finest homes the area has to offer!  Plan to tour the Parade of Homes April 12-20 daily.  The Greater Fort Smith Home Builders Association has a show case tour for you and it is  free.  The tour features homes in Sebastian and Crawford County built by local builders.  It's your chance to see what's new in home building.  You may tour the homes at your own pace and set your own agenda.Whether you are planning to build, first time home buyer, or just like looking at homes, you won't want to miss the tour.Click on the link  for printable map and directions.  www.fortsmithhomebuilders.com    VISIT THIS HOME AT 2718 BOULDER, DRIVE VAN BUREN 04/10/2008

Well guys, if you have not read my blog from last, please read it before you read this:http://activerain.com/blogsview/462032/Scary-night-in-Fort This is the size of the hail that pelted us last night :The night passed pretty much uneventful after we finally got to sleep about 2:30 am. Had some more storms roll through around 5:30 and when we got up at 7:00 am to get my granddaughter up for school, we found out that all the schools in the area are closed, there is major flooding in 2 counties.I went downstairs to check on my dog, and my lower level is totally flooded with about 2 inches of standing water in it. My daughter had her beds and boxes and stuff stored down there and it is all ruined. Then my garage, which is actually a storage shed, has a river running through it. It is FULL ... 04/10/2008

 It has been a scary night here in Fort Smith and Van Buren. We have had tornado warnings, severe stroms and extreme hail. It got so bad that I made the decision to take my 26 year old daughter, grandkids and my dog Halle to the neighborhood storm shelter. The sirens were going off and they warned about rotation and very large hail.  In fact, just as we were arriving at the shelter, it started pelting the car. I mean, I thought it was going to come through the roof! We pulled up and the kids and my daughter managed to get out of the car but just as they were reaching the shelter, it opened up in rapid fire. I was stuck in the car with my dog and all I could do was pray. I was scared to death that it was actually going to shatter the windshield or come through the roof of the car. It die... 04/09/2008

One down 8 to go! I made it up another notch from 10th to #9 ranking in the state of Arkansas!  I am that much closer to my goal of getting to the top of my state!I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who comment on my posts and offer your support and encouragement! I sure wouldnt get there without you!Please keep reading and commenting. You make me smile! Thanks again!To your success,   03/21/2008

Congratulations to Donna Parker as this years Iverson Riggs Memorial "Citizen of the Year Award"  for Van Buren.KAIA LARSEN • TIMES RECORD Donna Parker holds her Iverson Riggs Memorial "Citizen of the Year Award" Wednesday at her home in Van Buren. A retired teacher and Van Buren city alderman, Parker has performed volunteer work for numerous organizations and activities in the city. You can read about her award in todays edition of the SW Times Record. Donna is a Graduate of Arkansas Tech University, Retired Teacher with the Van Buren School District and is an active volunteer in our community.It is people like Donna that make Van Buren  and Crawford County such a great place to live and raise a family!THANKS Donna!To your success,Susan Davis 03/17/2008

Let me introduce you to Van Buren`s Best kept Secret..... Cajun`s Back Door Resturant. While in Real Estate School, a bunch of us women decided to to go to this little restaurant in Van Buren. It is  owned by the Father of Amy Gilstrap~Craft, the Instructor of the Arkansas Real Estate Academy where I attended school.I had actually heard about Cajun`s Back Door from another friend and was told to give it try, but just had not gotten around to going. It is located in Downtown Historic Van Buren, Arkansas.I ordered my staple sandwich that I tend to order when eating a sandwich.Grilled Chicken Breast SandwichChicken Breast grilled with Sensational Seasonings, served on a split Top Hearth grilled bun with lettuce, tomato and mayo.I have to say it was the BEST Grilled Chicken I have ever eate... 03/16/2008

Our Van Buren Police Department gets new Squad Cars!photo by KENNETH FRYVan Buren Officer Chris Hoffsommer stands beside a newly designed black and white squad car.You can read about these new Police Cars and what they mean to our community on the Press Argus Courier website.I have got to tell you that I have been noticing these cars around town and you immediately get the feeling of "BIGGER & BETTER". I felt a bit more intimidated by them. My son even noticed them today while we headed down the road on the way to take him to youth ministry at First Baptist Church Van Buren`s Outloud Student Ministry 24/7.I really appreciate the Van Buren Police Department for providing safety to our community and our families.To your success!Susan 03/12/2008

So it is final..... my son Alan will going to Baker University in Baldwin City Kansas to attend college in August. I am so happy and yet so sad.I have three children and this one is my middle child, oldest son. He just turned 18 and he has been awarded a scholarship to play football and get his education!!!!!! I am one PROUD MOM! With the departure of Alan (handsome son above), I will be left with one more at home and then I will be an empty nester!!! Yikes... am I really getting to be that age already? I sure don't feel like it.Alan is the current record holder in 5 categories as QB for our local Van Buren High School and he will be playing QB for Baker as well. He is 6`4 and weighs in about 210. He is an Honor Student, Leader in his Youth Group at First Baptist Church Van Buren, gives... 02/19/2008

Which way is up?  Which way is down?  Well the numbers might surprise you when it comes to the Van Buren Residential Home Sales!There's been so much Gloom and Doom about real estate markets.  Who's right or Who's wrong?  If you let the mass media tell ya.  We are all Doomed!!  That's not the case in our market.  You can also take a view at the Ft. Smith, Arkansas Market.The Van Buren area has always been a thriving market.  It's a market that has a huge potential for growth and development.  It's also been known to be a very stable market as well.20072006   Units Sold489500-2.25%Total Volume$61,014,536 $61,310,117-0.48%Avg. Price Home$124,774 $122,6201.73%Units Sold and Total Volume dollars are down very slightly, and the Average Price of Homes has increased.  Again, each market is diff... 02/01/2008

Van Buren is the second largest city here in the River Valley.  It is just minutes away from Ft. Smith.  Van Buren has seen a great growth spurt over recent years in New Construction.  Developers have made it a model community that others are currently being judged by.  You may also find yourself getting more house for your money with several different loans available to the area including a Rural Development Loan.  In several cases I have found that Buyers can purchase a home with more square footage for less price in Van Buren than in Ft. Smith.  Van Buren has also seen growth from individuals from NW Arkansas which is only 45 minutes away.  Why?  Well again, the value of homes.So, if you like country living with the conveniences of the city life; Van Buren just might be the place for... 02/11/2007